Saxon Math
Saxon Math is a K–12 textbook series from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt built on incremental lessons and constant mixed review, sold to homeschoolers as kits from Math K through Calculus.
What is Saxon Math?
Saxon Math is a textbook series that teaches one small new idea at a time and then mixes it into practice for weeks afterward. John Saxon built the method, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt now publishes the books under the Saxon Publishers name. Homeschoolers buy it as kits for each level, from Math K all the way to Calculus.
The big idea is that skills stick when you keep using them. Instead of a chapter on fractions and then moving on, Saxon introduces a piece of fractions, then keeps a few fraction problems in every lesson after that.
How it works
Saxon is really two programs.
K–3 (Nancy Larson) is scripted and parent-led. Each day starts with The Meeting, a short routine on the calendar, money, counting and patterns. Then you teach a new concept with manipulatives and review older ones. Kindergarten has no student book at all.
Math 5/4 and up (Stephen Hake and John Saxon) is textbook-based. A lesson opens with warm-ups (fact practice, mental math and a word problem), explains one new increment with examples, gives a few practice problems, then a mixed set that is mostly review. Many students read the lesson themselves while a parent checks answers.
Most homeschool kits hold the student text, a tests and worksheets book, and a solutions manual or answer key.
What it covers
| Level | Typical grade |
|---|---|
| Math K, 1, 2, 3 | K–3 |
| Intermediate 3, 4, 5 | 3–5 |
| Math 5/4 | 4 |
| Math 6/5 | 5 |
| Math 7/6 | 6 |
| Math 8/7 | 7 |
| Algebra 1/2 | 8 |
| Algebra 1 | 9 |
| Geometry or Algebra 2 | 10 |
| Advanced Math | 11 |
| Calculus | 12 |
These are retailer suggestions. Saxon books are skill levels, not grade levels, so the Saxon placement tests matter more than age.
Who it's best for
Saxon suits children who like routine, need lots of review to retain skills, and can learn from worked examples. It is a solid pick for middle school math and high school math when a student wants to work mostly on their own.
Look elsewhere if your child melts down at long problem sets or needs visual, hands-on explanations beyond the early grades.
Pricing at a glance
You buy a kit once per level. In October 2026, Christianbook listed kits from about $122 (Math K) to about $204 (Algebra 1 with solutions manual). Other retailers price them differently, and used kits are easy to find because the textbooks are reusable. K–3 also needs a manipulatives kit.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Often, yes. Textbook curriculum is a commonly allowed ESA expense in programs like the Arizona ESA and Florida's scholarships, though each program decides which purchases and vendors qualify. Save Saxon Math to your wishlist, then check scholarships in your state and apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
- Teaching Textbooks is app-based and grades itself.
- Math-U-See is mastery-based with blocks and videos. See Math-U-See vs Saxon Math.
- Singapore Math goes deeper on concepts and word problems. See Saxon Math vs Singapore Math.
- Math Mammoth is cheaper and mastery-based.
Browse all homeschool math curriculum or see our best homeschool math curriculum.
Who Saxon Math is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Students who need constant review to retain skills
- Families who want one series from kindergarten to calculus
- Middle and high schoolers who can work from a textbook on their own
- Parents who like a clear script in the early grades
Look elsewhere if
- Kids who get frustrated by long problem sets
- Learners who need visual or hands-on explanations past grade 3
- Families wanting a short, game-like daily routine
Saxon Math pros and cons
Pros
- Cumulative review in every lesson keeps old skills sharp
- Covers every grade from Math K to Calculus
- From Math 5/4 up, students can do much of the work independently
- Scripted K–3 lessons give new homeschoolers confidence
- Widely available new and used
Cons
- Lessons with 20 to 30 mixed problems can feel long
- Leans on rules and procedures more than conceptual explanation
- K–3 is teacher-intensive and costs extra for manipulatives
- Book names like 5/4 and 8/7 confuse first-time buyers
- Prices vary widely by retailer
What’s included
- Incremental lessons with daily mixed review
- Scripted, parent-led K–3 program with manipulatives
- Math 5/4 through Calculus written for largely independent work
- Homeschool kits with student text, tests and solutions
- Placement tests for primary, middle and upper levels
Saxon Math levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Math K, 1, 2 and 3 (Nancy Larson) | K–3 | Scripted, parent-led lessons that open with The Meeting (calendar, money, patterns) and use manipulatives. Kindergarten has no student book. |
| Intermediate 3, 4 and 5 | 3–5 | Stephen Hake's texts for grades 3–5 with Power Up warm-ups. Intermediate 4 and 5 closely match Math 5/4 and 6/5. |
| Math 5/4, 6/5, 7/6 and 8/7 | 4–7 | Textbook-based middle grades, usually used in grades 4 through 7. Each lesson has warm-ups, one new increment and a mixed practice set that is mostly review. |
| Algebra 1/2 | Grade 8 | Pre-algebra. Students doing well in Math 8/7 sometimes skip it and go straight to Algebra 1. |
| Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 | 9–11 | Core high school courses, sold in 3rd and 4th editions. A separate Geometry kit is available, and retailers suggest Algebra 2 or Geometry in grade 10. |
| Advanced Mathematics and Calculus | 11–12 | Advanced Math (precalculus level) and Calculus, both sold as kits with solutions manuals. |
Saxon offers a K–3 placement inventory, a middle grades test (5/4 through Algebra 1/2) and upper grades tests for Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Advanced Math and Calculus. Saxon books are skill-level, not grade-level, so place by the test, not by age.
Official Saxon Math placement test ↗How much does Saxon Math cost?
Saxon is a one-time book purchase per level. Retailer prices vary a lot. At Christianbook in October 2026, kits ran from $121.79 (Math K) to about $204 (Algebra 1, 4th edition, with solutions manual). Other sellers such as BookShark, Rainbow Resource and Homeschool Buyers Co-op price the same kits differently, so compare before buying. Used kits are common because the student texts are reusable.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math K Home Study Kit (Christianbook) | $121.79 | One-time | — |
| Math 5/4 Homeschool Kit, 3rd ed. (Christianbook) | $152.33 | One-time | — |
| Math 8/7 Home Study Kit, 3rd ed. (Christianbook) | $148.39 | One-time | — |
| Algebra 1 Kit with Solutions, 3rd ed. (Christianbook) | $177.79 | One-time | — |
| K–3 Home Study Manipulative Kit (Christianbook) | $74.99 | One-time | — |
Free trial: No trial. Placement tests are free to download from retailers that carry Saxon.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
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Saxon Math FAQs
What is Saxon Math?
Saxon Math is a textbook series that teaches math in small steps, called increments, and reviews every earlier skill in each day's practice set. It was started by John Saxon and is now published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
What Saxon level should my child start with?
Use a placement test, not your child's grade. As a rough guide, retailers suggest Math 5/4 in grade 4, 6/5 in grade 5, 7/6 in grade 6, 8/7 in grade 7 and Algebra 1/2 in grade 8. Single-course placement tests suggest starting a book only if your child scores above about 85 percent on the test for the level below.
Why are Saxon books named 5/4, 6/5 and 7/6?
Saxon names its middle books with two grade numbers because each one spans two typical grades. Retailers place most 4th graders in 5/4, most 5th graders in 6/5 and so on, but the placement test is the better guide.
Is Saxon Math Christian?
No. Saxon is published by a mainstream secular publisher, although Christian retailers sell it widely and many Christian homeschoolers use it.
Is Saxon Math good for homeschooling?
Many families use it for years because it is predictable and thorough. The K–3 books need a parent to teach every lesson. From Math 5/4 up, students can often read the lesson and work independently, with a parent checking work.
Do I need the Intermediate books or 5/4?
Either path works. Starting Saxon in grade 3, Intermediate 3 leads smoothly into Intermediate 4 or Math 5/4. Intermediate 4 and 5 overlap heavily with 5/4 and 6/5, so you don't need both.
Can an ESA pay for Saxon Math?
Often, because it is standard curriculum. Each program decides which purchases and vendors are allowed, so check your state's rules first. You can save Saxon to an Edulist wishlist and apply once to scholarships.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources:
- christianbook.com · saxon math
- cathyduffyreviews.com · saxon math k3
- cathyduffyreviews.com · saxon math intermediate series
- cathyduffyreviews.com · saxon math 54 through calculus
- cdn1.sonlight.com · saxon primary placement.pdf
- chcweb.com · Saxon placement test middlegrades.pdf
- chcweb.com · Saxon placement test uppergrades.pdf
- bookshark.com · saxon math 5 4 homeschool kit
- en.wikipedia.org · Saxon math